Crunching in the chest can occur for many reasons. Perhaps this is simply a lack of nutrients, but the development of pathology is not excluded. Most often, patients are diagnosed with degenerative-dystrophic damage to the ribs at the points of attachment to the sternum.
Why crunches?
Degenerative-dystrophic lesions of the joints can occur even in youth, they develop against the background of a sedentary lifestyle and curvature of the spinal column.
On the costal joints, in front and behind the chest, calcium deposits are deposited over time. They help to limit mobility, pain and crunch during movement.
In old age, a crunch in the chest appears against the background of such changes in the body:
- Osteochondrosis in a progressive stage.
- Spondylosis of the thoracic spine.
- Compression fractures that are characteristic of older people.
Deposition of bone osteophytes in the muscular-articular apparatus and in the ligaments of the musculoskeletal system is also possible. A crunch occurs due to a violation of the mobility of the ribs during inspiration, since the intercostal space is violated during such actions:
- Filling the chest with air.
- During an increase in lung tissue.
As the disease develops, a crunch will be felt during movement, when turning the body or changing body position.
What is dangerous?
If the nutrition is irrational, protein is not present in it, then dystrophic changes and calcification in the joint tissue occur over time. As a result of active movements, damage to the cartilage tissue begins, in which calcium formations accumulate, leading to joint cracks.
The consequences that await a person feeling a crunch in the chest:
- If there are complaints of a crunch in the chest area, poor blood supply against a background of chondrosis, compression fractures of the spine should be excluded.
- Crunching or clicking in the ribs may indicate fractures of the ribs, dislocation or subluxation of the joints in the costal part. In this case, along with a crunch, you can hear complaints of severe pain in the affected area.
- Sliding rib syndrome carries its own danger. When the joint gap expands, the distal part of the rib bone falls out of the joint. As a result, trauma can occur, rupture of internal organs, which lead to internal bleeding.
- Of particular danger is the local inflammatory process of the articular surface in Titz syndrome. First, the mobility of the joint is impaired, and secondly, the inflammation passes to healthy tissues, and this can threaten the generalization of the process.
Rib-sternum syndrome
With this syndrome, clicking and crunching are felt in violation of the mobility of the ribs during breathing. When the lungs fill with air, the chest cavity expands. Intercostal spaces also expand. When calcium salts are deposited, mobility is impaired in the cartilage.
Doctors cannot pinpoint the cause of the rib-sternum syndrome, but there is an assumption that it develops against the background of degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine. Most often they become ill women after 40 years.
Symptoms of this condition are as follows:
- Crunch in the chest during extension.
- Local pain in the area below the chest.
- Pain most often occurs during a sudden movement or after prolonged sitting in one position.
- Crunch in the chest when inhaling.
- The pain intensifies with a deep breath.
- Pain decreases after blockade with glucocorticosteroids.
Risk factors
The following can affect the occurrence of a crunch in the chest in the middle:
- Lifting weights with limited mobility of the spine.
- Deterioration of biochemical metabolic processes against the background of diseases such as gout, diabetes mellitus, phosphate diabetes, and other diseases associated with metabolic disorders.
- Spinal curvature.
- Ankylosing spondylitis.
- Chondrosis.
- Intervertebral hernia.
- A diet that does not comply with the rules of a healthy diet, leading to a worsening of metabolic processes.
All these diseases progress if the regime of limiting static vertical loads is not respected.
Diagnosis and treatment
Diagnosis of pain and a crunch in the chest involves radiography. This method can confirm or refute the destructive process in bone tissue and the formation of salts in it.
Treatment will depend on the cause of the chest crunch. Most often, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and symptomatic therapy are prescribed. To reduce pain, warming ointments are prescribed, in addition, they improve blood microcirculation at the site of the lesion. If a complication has joined, then therapeutic measures may drag on for a long time.
General recommendations for spinal crunch
When the diagnosis wanes, the doctor can give general recommendations to enhance the effect of treatment:
- Review your diet. Include more fruits and vegetables in the menu. So the process of salt deposition is reduced.
- To develop exercises from the complex of exercise therapy for the back. This is necessary to strengthen the muscles that support the spine, in this case, a powerful muscle corset will prevent the vertebrae from moving from their places.
- A therapeutic massage can be equally effective. In addition, it will tone and strengthen the whole body.
With degenerative changes in the spinal column, one will have to radically change the whole lifestyle of a person. During work, more often interrupt and relax, while doing simple physical exercises, more walking, women are advised to abandon high heels.
Manual therapy
Manual therapy is an auxiliary treatment in a complex of rehabilitation measures. It mainly consists of kinesitherapy and exercise therapy.
Initially, the patient performs all the exercises under the strict supervision of a physician. When the doctor sees that everything is done correctly, then you can do therapeutic exercises at home.
To restore the affected parts of the spine, reflexology is used. Massage and osteopathy will strengthen muscle ligaments and eliminate calcium deposits.
Nutrition rules
To speed up the healing process and restore cartilage, it is necessary to provide the body with nutrients. An important role is played by plant and animal proteins. In second place is the importance of plant foods - fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs.
There are especially harmful products, the use of which is better to refuse or at least reduce their intake. These are coffee, fried and greasy foods, spirits and salty foods. Liquid plays an important role for cartilage, water should be drunk up to two liters per day.
Preventative measures
Deposition of salts in the joints can be avoided by following the following preventive instructions:
- Eat properly. At times do fasting days. Do not neglect dairy products.
- Be physically active, exercise regularly, do gymnastic exercises. It will be nice to do yoga or Pilates.
- Take vitamins and minerals. But these drugs should be prescribed by a specialist.
- Refuse bad habits, alcohol is only in moderation and on holidays.
Crunch in the chest is a significant symptom that signals a malfunction in the musculoskeletal system of a person. Most often, crunching occurs with curvature of the spine, chondrosis, ankylosing spondylitis, intervertebral hernia. These diseases will progress if not treated promptly. Such pathologies can not be started, because they further threaten with disability. In this case, early diagnosis is very important, which will help prevent dangerous consequences. With timely initiation of therapy, the prognosis of recovery is favorable.